The bad news for the Detroit Lions is that despite putting up a winning 9-8 record in the recently completed 2026 NFL campaign, they were unable to return to the postseason and missed for the first time since 2023.
Adding insult to injury was the fact that the NFC North title now belongs to the rival Chicago Bears, who are run by former Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson.
What are the chances that Johnson and the Bears could soon add a notable former Lions defensive weapon into the mix to help add to the sting? One notable NFL Insider believes that they should jump at the chance.
The Chicago Bears Are Being Urged To Sign Former Detroit Lions Nose Tackle D.J. Reader
Not long after the 2026 NFL Draft was in the books, Mike Pendleton of USA Todayâs Bears Wire shared several names that could fit for the Bears in free agency.
âWhile not every player will have an immediate impact or opportunity, Chicago could be a team that continues to dip into the free agent market ahead of the 2026 season,â he notes in the piece, âlooking to add more veteran talent and experience across the board.â
Pendleton then pivots to former Lions nose tackle D.J. Reader who, despite being rumored to the New York Giants, could make a difference for the Bears.
âAnother veteran at the defensive tackle spot, D.J. Reader has reportedly garnered interest from the New York Giants, who recently traded Dexter Lawrence,â Pendleton explains. âBut the Bears shouldnât be afraid to throw their name in the mix.â
He continued:
â(While) Reader is not going to provide many sacks,â he âdid play in all 17 games for the Detroit Lions last season, totaling 28 tackles and would be more of a signing to add a leader than a high-level producer.”
Reader, who is now a free-agent after completing his two year deal, wasn’t expected to sign with a new club until after the completion of the NFL Draft. Over the course of his NFL career, Reader has accumulated 328 tackles, 12.5 sacks, a forced fumble, nine pass deflections, and three fumble recoveries.
D.J. Reader Is A Former Lion And Has Played For Several Teams
A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, Reader attended Clemson University, where he played both football and baseball.
He would later be selected in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the Houston Texans, and played in seven games in his rookie campaign, accumulating one sack, seven solo tackles and 15 assisted tackles.
In 2020, Reader signed a four-year, $53 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals and would later start three years as their nose tackle before joining the Lions with a two-year contract with the Lions.
During his time in the Motor City with the Lions, Reader started 32 games.
Known for his community service work, Reader has been a two-time nominee for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award with both the Texans in 2019 and the Lions in 2025. He also received the President’s Lifetime Achievement Volunteer Service Award for over 4,000 hours of service.
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